Woman found dead on city's southeast side

Andrea Landry, left, is comforted by Crystal Jean, right, after Landry's mother's body was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Andrea Landry, left, is comforted by Crystal Jean, right, after Landry's mother's body was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 2 of 5

Friends and family watch as police load the body of Theresa Landry into the Harris County Medical Examiner's van after she was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Friends and family watch as police load the body of Theresa Landry into the Harris County Medical Examiner's van after she was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 5

Police load the body of Theresa Landry into the Harris County Medical Examiner's van after she was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Police load the body of Theresa Landry into the Harris County Medical Examiner's van after she was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 5

Charise Landry reacts after the body of her mother, Theresa Landry, was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Charise Landry reacts after the body of her mother, Theresa Landry, was found dead in the 5400 block of Chennault Street Monday, June 11, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 5 of 5

A family picture of Theresa Landry, 63, is shown.

A family picture of Theresa Landry, 63, is shown.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Woman found dead on city's southeast side

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

Police so far have few clues after a woman was found dead along a street in southeast Houston early Monday morning.

The woman was discovered about 1:45 a.m. at 5400 Chennault near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said the woman, whose name has not been released, died at the scene. She appeared to have suffered trauma to the upper torso.

Police said a resident spotted the woman and called 911. Investigators say they are trying to determine how the woman died.

The resident who called 911 told investigators he heard yelling before the woman was found, said Sr. Police Officer P. Vela. Vela said no one reported hearing gunshots or any other commotion that could be connected to the death. Police so far have no motive or suspects in the case.

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

Charise Landry who was at the scene watching police investigate the death said the victim was her mother, Theresa Landry. She said her mother lives in the neighborhood and was possibly walking to a nearby store when she was attacked. Charise Landry was crying as she tried to think of why someone would kill her. She was a 63-year-old, kind-hearted grandmother who had no enemies.

Residents in the neighborhood said they knew the victim as Momma Theresa. She was kindly, generous and gentle. She often cooked for them. She was a good cook.

"It's really a surprise," said 55-year-old Lee McCalister.

Marcus Burks, 36, said he and his mother live across the street from where the body was found. He said his mother heard somebody outside yell "Help" and he looked out the window and saw the victim lying on the ground. He saw and heard nothing else. He called 911.

"It's terrible, terrible to wake up to something like this," Burks said.

Other residents said the neighborhood is quiet and the killing is strange for the area. Most neighbors said they know each other. They said people feel safe enough to walk along the street late at night to a nearby convenience store and youngsters play basketball late into the night on a goal near the edge of the street not far from where the body was found.

The family who lives at the home where the victim was spotted lying on along the street bleeding said they heard dogs barking about the time the killing happened but didn't hear or see anything that may have suggested someone was being attacked outside their fence. The death is frightening to them.

"It's scary," said 19-year-old Karen Rodriguez, "because it's right in front of the house."